Batman 75th anniversary: An A-Z of The Dark Knight

Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939, Batman debuted on the cover of Detective Comics #27 swinging across the Gotham City rooftops to apprehend a bank robber.

In the decades since the Caped Crusader's comic book bow, the character has traversed almost every entertainment medium possible - TV, film, animation, video games - to cement himself as one of the world's most recognizable cultural icons.

Inspired by Zorro and the giant bat-like wings from Leonardo da Vinci's Ornithopter flying machine, Batman is the dark and brooding flip-side to DC's other marquee character Superman, who'd debuted a year earlier in the pages of Action Comics. Superman, the bright, hopeful and idealistic hero is who we strive to be; Batman, the brooding, angst-filled human, is closer to our reality.

With TV series Gotham due later this year and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in production for release in 2016, the Dark Knight is still at the forefront of the contemporary pop landscape.

For 2014, Batman's 75th year, Digital Spy is celebrating all things Bruce Wayne this week with a comprehensive A-Z of the character (accompanied by artwork from Old Red Jalopy) and our anniversary video (with Orbital Comics' Chris Thompson) below.

What are your memories of Batman? Do you have a favorite incarnation? Why do you think he's lasted for 75 years? Join in the discussion in the comments section below!